Cultural Nights at the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Community and Government Center will continue through June. Cultural Nights usually have a different cultural theme (Cornhusk Doll making, Wampanoag storytelling, quahog stuffer making, etc.) including MC, singing and dancing. The themes are typically announced on the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Education Department Facebook page.

The Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project (WLRP) is excited to announce the January 7 start date of three new classroom assistant trainees who will be supporting and learning from our Weetumuw School teaching team. Sharman Brown, Danna Floyd and Brian Weeden were selected from among a fantastic applicant pool to train with WLRP in order to prepare to help open the Mashpee Wampanoag Education Department’s first ever daycare facility next fall.

For the third year in a row the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe will host a Mashpee High School Varsity Boys and Varsity Girls Basketball Game. The two games will be played on Thursday, February 13 at the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Community and Government Center.

The girls varsity game will be played first with tip off at 5:30 PM and the boys game will immediately follow at 7:00 PM.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Historic Preservation Department a unique grant to support the installation of a new exhibit at the Mashpee Wampanoag Museum. The new exhibit will replace the whaling exhibit and will focus on the history of the Wampanoag Nation prior to and post European colonization.

The Child & Family Service (CFS) department is open for business, we have a staff of 3 members.  Can you imagine a place in our tribe where people of all ages, incomes, and abilities are welcome to develop helpful and caring connections with each other? A place where skilled and thoughtful professionals along with Elders, Tribal Leaders, Medicine folks, and Clan Mothers help parents, children, and families find emotional support, financial support and practical assistance to succeed in life? A place that offers sensible solutions to families seeking health, safety, educational, and employment services? That is exactly what we are hoping to develop through the CFS department.

The United States Census Bureau is in need of people to fill a variety of positions in Bristol, Barnstable, Plymouth, Dukes and Nantucket County. Currently they are searching for individuals for the following positions: Field Supervisor, Office Supervisor, Field Operations and Office Clerk. All of these positions pay over $20 per hour. Also, they are in specific need for people on Cape Cod.

The 2020 U.S. census will be going out very soon. The government determines how to distribute more than $600 billion of federal dollars to programs, grants and Native American tribes through the data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau. Filling out the form truthfully and accurately remains one of the best ways to ensure the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe receives the correct amount of federal funding for community programs and services.

For several years the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Education Department have been increasing tribal students’ access to the Native Colleges in the New Mexico region, a goal of the Tribe’s Education Director Roxanne Mills Brown. Native students have attended college visits, received application support and financial assistance through the Education Department Career Pathways program that is funded in part by the NYCP Building Pathways for Tribal Youth Grant.

The Greater New Bedford Community Health Center will hold monthly, farmers market-style mobile markets in partnership with The Greater Boston Food Bank.  The produce market is from 11:00 a.m. to noon.  Dates include:  February 10, March 9, April 13, May 11, June 8, July 13, August 10 and September 14.

Every month we will be looking at Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Laws that address victimization.  In the Tribal Community Laws 2018, Section 1, Chapter 4, Section 4.7 addresses Elder or Vulnerable Adult Abuse.  It is a misdemeanor offense for a person to commit the crime of Elder or Vulnerable Adult Abuse under this Section 4.7 if the person has the responsibility for care or custody of an elder or a dependent adult, and the negligent exercise of that responsibility results in deprivation of services necessary to maintain minimum physical, medical, and mental health to a degree of care below that which a reasonable person in like position would exercise.  A third conviction of Elder or Vulnerable Adult Abuse under this Section 4.7 is a felony.

AJ Govoni’s track season started late this year because he was out for two weeks with an illness. He made up for lost time in his first meet of the year by qualifying for the MIAA All-States in his first attempt. Govoni took first place with a jump of 19 feet and two inches on January 7. To coach Mark Doucette, it’s no surprise, because Govoni, who also plays football, showed a lot of promise as a freshman. “He works hard in practice, listens and wants to get better every time on the track,” the coach said.

The Tribe’s Education Department currently operates a Native Youth Community Project, for College & Career Readiness funded by a US Department of Education Demonstration Grant, which serves youth, grades 7-12, in the 5 Counties of Bristol, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, and Barnstable, which includes Mashpee. The grant, in its last year, offers paid Internship opportunities, group college and career exploration, Individual parent/child college visits, and college entrance preparation/tutoring. Contact Cameron Greendeer at (508) 477-0208 Ext. 178.

Cape Cod Community College has launched a free, non-credit, college course that will address local career opportunities, and technology basics related to offshore wind. The course, “Offshore Wind 101: Energy, Climate and Jobs,” is offered through the College’s Center for Corporate and Professional Education. Learn about how you can break into this emerging career path. For more information, please contact Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Employment and Training Program Manager Marnell Cash at (508) 477-0208 ext 161 or at Marnell.cash@mwtribe-nsn.gov.

Last year UK’s largest regional producing theatre, Theatre Royal Plymouth, along with the Wampanoag Advisory Committee headed by Linda Coombs and Kitty Hendricks, brought the concept of a major production to explore and acknowledge the strength and power of the Wampanoag Nation. Since then community sessions have been held in the US and the UK and the result is a script that has been completed and rehearsal dates that have been set. This is a major step forward in a piece of art that will better inform the world in the history of the Wampanaog Nation.

The New England Historic Genealogical Society have sponsored a unique essay contest for students enrolled in grades 5-12. A total of six winners from two categories (grades 5-8 and grades 9-12) will receive $500 and be invited to present part of their essay at a special event in Boston.

The 2020 American Ancestors Young Historians Essay Contest asks students to explore how this 400-year-old history relates to our national, familial, and/or personal stories and identities.

Tribal Students are asked to select one of the following questions to explore in their essay.

• How is the story of the Mayflower still relevant today?

• What does your tribal history mean to you?

Submissions are due June 10, 2020 and may be submitted online at mayflower.americanancestors.org/essay-contest.

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe AmeriCorps Program is now recruiting for the 2020 program year.  AmeriCorps provides you with valuable life experience and skill development while you serve on a team with fellow 18-24 year olds, earn money for college, and help your Tribal community while receiving a weekly pay stipend!  You will perform direct, hands-on service in the areas of natural and other disasters and environmental stewardship. You’ll also undergo various intensive trainings at the beginning of your service which includes travel to Alabama to prepare you for the adventure ahead and to learn new skillsets along the way. Learn and grow with a team of your peers and build lasting connections!